Center for Business and Education moves ahead

The Center for Business and Education should be ready for occupancy in 2012, according to the center’s backers at a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Infrastructure construction at the commerce park on the western edge of the village should take place next year, according to Lisa Abel, president of the board of Community Resources, the community improvement corporation that is developing the project.

“Through most of 2011 you will see dirt being moved,” Abel said at the meeting.

Most of the Community Resources board attended the public gathering, along with several former members, some Village staff and elected officials. However, only one other villager attended the meeting.

The CBE has been in the planning stages since Community Resources purchased the 46 acres for the project in 2004. However, complications involving federal and state grant funding has led to the project taking longer than expected, Abel said.

But progress continues to be made, she said. The first design phase, including a preliminary design of roads and utilities, has been completed by the Jacobs engineering firm, and is currently under review. Next, the second design phase, which includes detailed engineering drawings, will be completed, Abel stated.

Community Resources is currently seeking Requests for Proposals, or RFPs, from area marketing firms to act as a development partner on the project, marketing the project to potential business occupants.

“We hope a firm will figure out how to attract folks from other parts of the region who are growing out their garages,” Abel said.

A more detailed story will be in the Aug. 19 issue of the Yellow Springs News.